Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a lower interlayer insulating layer disposed on the substrate. An opening passing through the lower interlayer insulating layer and exposing the substrate is included. A buried insulating pattern is disposed in the opening. First and second conductive layer patterns are sequentially stacked to surround the sidewall and bottom of the buried insulating pattern. A phase change material pattern is included, which is disposed on the lower interlayer insulating layer in contact with a top surface of the second conductive layer pattern, and spaced apart from the first conductive layer pattern. An upper interlayer insulating layer covering the lower interlayer insulating layer and the phase change material pattern is included. A conductive plug is included, which passes through the upper interlayer insulating layer and is electrically connected to the phase change material pattern. A method of fabricating the semiconductor device is also provided.

Abstract: In a method of forming a phase-change memory unit, a conductive layer is formed on a substrate having a trench. The conductive layer is planarized until the substrate is exposed to form a first electrode. A spacer partially covering the first electrode is formed. A phase-change material layer is formed on the first electrode and the second spacer. A second electrode is formed on the phase-change material layer. Reset/set currents of the phase-change memory unit may be reduced and deterioration of the phase-change material layer may be reduced and/or prevented.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an insulating layer on a substrate, a first electrode in the insulating layer having a first upper surface and a second upper surface, a second electrode in the insulating layer spaced apart from the first electrode by a first distance and having a third upper surface and a fourth upper surface, the third upper surface being disposed at a substantially same level as the first upper surface, and the fourth upper surface being disposed at a substantially same level as the second upper surface, a first phase change material pattern covering a part of the first upper surface of the first electrode, and a second phase change material pattern covering a part of the third upper surface of the second electrode, wherein an interface region between the second phase change pattern and the second electrode is spaced apart from an interface region between the first phase change pattern and the first electrode by a second distance greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a phase change memory includes forming a lower electrode on a semiconductor substrate, forming a phase change pattern, an upper electrode, and a hard mask pattern sequentially on the lower electrode, a width of a bottom surface of the hard mask pattern being greater than a width of a top surface of the hard mask pattern, the bottom surface of the hard mask pattern facing the upper electrode and being opposite the top surface of the hard mask pattern, and forming a capping layer to cover the top surface of the hard mask pattern and sidewalls of the hard mask pattern, phase change pattern, and upper electrode.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory array includes an array of phase-changeable memory elements that are electrically insulated from each other by at least a first electrically insulating region extending between the array of phase-changeable memory elements. The first electrically insulating region includes a plurality of voids therein. Each of these voids extends between a corresponding pair of phase-changeable memory cells in the non-volatile memory array and, collectively, the voids form an array of voids in the first electrically insulating region.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a phase-change memory device has an oxidation barrier layer to protect against memory cell contamination or oxidation and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises a molding layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The molding layer has a protrusion portion vertically extending from a top surface thereof. The device further includes a phase-changeable material pattern adjacent the protrusion portion and a lower electrode electrically connected to the phase-changeable material pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of a semiconductor device having a ferroelectric material capacitor and method of making the same. The semiconductor device includes a capacitor having a triple-level oxygen barrier layer pattern formed by an oxygen barrier metal layer, a material layer formed of a conductive solid solution by compounding the oxygen barrier metal layer and oxygen, and an oxygen barrier metal on an interlayer dielectric with a contact plug. The capacitor also has an electrode and a ferroelectric film electrically contacting to the oxygen barrier layer. Further, a wetting layer is formed between the oxygen barrier layer and the contact plug, and an iridium oxygen layer is formed between the oxygen barrier layer and a capacitor electrode.

Abstract: Pursuant to embodiments of the present invention, ferroelectric memory devices are provided which comprise a transistor that is provided on an active region in a semiconductor substrate, and a capacitor that has a bottom electrode, a capacitor-ferroelectric layer and a top electrode. These devices may further include at least one planarizing layer that is adjacent to the side surfaces of the bottom electrode such that the top surface of the planarizing layer(s) and the top surface of the bottom electrode form a planar surface. The capacitor-ferroelectric may be formed on this planar surface. The device may also include a plug that electrically connects the bottom electrode to a source-drain region of the transistor. The ferroelectric memory devices according to embodiments of the present invention may reduce ferroelectric degradation of the capacitor.

Abstract: A method of forming a phase change memory device includes forming a core pattern on a substrate, conformally forming a heat conductive layer on the substrate including the core pattern, anisotropically etching the heat conductive layer down to a top surface of the core pattern to form a heat electrode surrounding a sidewall of the core pattern, and forming a phase change memory pattern connected to a top surface of the heat electrode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a phase-change memory device has an oxidation barrier layer to protect against memory cell contamination or oxidation and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises a molding layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The molding layer has a protrusion portion vertically extending from a top surface thereof. The device further includes a phase-changeable material pattern adjacent the protrusion portion and a lower electrode electrically connected to the phase-changeable material pattern.

Abstract: There are provided PRAMS having a plurality of active regions located vertically in sequence and methods of forming the same. The PRAM and the method provide an approach to rapidly changing phase in a phase change layer pattern with a given design rule. A semiconductor substrate defining at least one reference active region is prepared in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. Other semiconductor substrates on a vertical line passing a main surface of the reference active region are located in sequence. The other semiconductor substrates define other active regions, respectively. A lower cell gate pattern is formed on the semiconductor substrate of the reference active region, and upper cell gate patterns are disposed on the other semiconductor substrates of the other active regions, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase-change memory device including a phase-change material pattern, a diffusion barrier layer, a bottom electrode and a top electrode. The phase-change material pattern is placed on the bottom electrode, and the diffusion barrier layer containing tellurium is placed on the phase-change material pattern. The top electrode containing titanium is placed on the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer acts to inhibit diffusion of titanium from the top electrode into the phase-change material pattern.

Abstract: A phase change memory device includes a mold layer disposed on a substrate, a heating electrode, a filling insulation pattern and a phase change material pattern. The heating electrode is disposed in an opening exposing the substrate through the mold layer. The heating electrode is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, having its sidewalls conformally disposed on the lower inner walls of the opening. The filling insulation pattern fills an empty region surrounded by the sidewalls of the heating electrode. The phase change material pattern is disposed on the mold layer and downwardly extended to fill the empty part of the opening. The phase change material pattern contacts the top surfaces of the sidewalls of the heating electrode.

Abstract: In a node structure under a capacitor in a ferroelectric random access memory device and a method of forming the same, top surfaces of the node structures are disposed at substantially the same level as a top surface of an interlayer insulating layer surrounding the node structures, and thus crystal growth of a ferroelectric in the capacitor can be stabilized. To this end, a node insulating pattern is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A node defining pattern surrounding the node insulating pattern is disposed under the node insulating pattern. A node conductive pattern is disposed between the node defining pattern and the node insulating pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a lower interlayer insulating layer disposed on the substrate. An opening passing through the lower interlayer insulating layer and exposing the substrate is included. A buried insulating pattern is disposed in the opening. First and second conductive layer patterns are sequentially stacked to surround the sidewall and bottom of the buried insulating pattern. A phase change material pattern is included, which is disposed on the lower interlayer insulating layer in contact with a top surface of the second conductive layer pattern, and spaced apart from the first conductive layer pattern. An upper interlayer insulating layer covering the lower interlayer insulating layer and the phase change material pattern is included. A conductive plug is included, which passes through the upper interlayer insulating layer and is electrically connected to the phase change material pattern. A method of fabricating the semiconductor device is also provided.

Abstract: Ferroelectric integrated circuit devices, such as memory devices, are formed on an integrated circuit substrate. Ferroelectric capacitor(s) are on the integrated circuit substrate and a further structure on the integrated circuit substrate overlies at least a part of the ferroelectric capacitor(s). The further structure includes at least one layer providing a barrier to oxygen flow to the ferroelectric capacitor(s). An oxygen penetration path contacting the ferroelectric capacitor(s) is interposed between the ferroelectric capacitor(s) and the further structure. The layer providing a barrier to oxygen flow may be an encapsulated barrier layer. Methods for forming ferroelectric integrated circuit devices, such as memory devices, are also provided.

Abstract: There are provided PRAMS having a plurality of active regions located vertically in sequence and methods of forming the same. The PRAM and the method provide an approach to rapidly changing phase in a phase change layer pattern with a given design rule. A semiconductor substrate defining at least one reference active region is prepared in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. Other semiconductor substrates on a vertical line passing a main surface of the reference active region are located in sequence. The other semiconductor substrates define other active regions, respectively. A lower cell gate pattern is formed on the semiconductor substrate of the reference active region, and upper cell gate patterns are disposed on the other semiconductor substrates of the other active regions, respectively.

Abstract: A phase change memory device includes a mold layer disposed on a substrate, a heating electrode, a filling insulation pattern and a phase change material pattern. The heating electrode is disposed in an opening exposing the substrate through the mold layer. The heating electrode is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, having its sidewalls conformally disposed on the lower inner walls of the opening. The filling insulation pattern fills an empty region surrounded by the sidewalls of the heating electrode. The phase change material pattern is disposed on the mold layer and downwardly extended to fill the empty part of the opening. The phase change material pattern contacts the top surfaces of the sidewalls of the heating electrode.

Abstract: There are provided PRAMS having a plurality of active regions located vertically in sequence and methods of forming the same. The PRAM and the method provide an approach to rapidly changing phase in a phase change layer pattern with a given design rule. A semiconductor substrate defining at least one reference active region is prepared in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. Other semiconductor substrates on a vertical line passing a main surface of the reference active region are located in sequence. The other semiconductor substrates define other active regions, respectively. A lower cell gate pattern is formed on the semiconductor substrate of the reference active region, and upper cell gate patterns are disposed on the other semiconductor substrates of the other active regions, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase-change memory device including a phase-change material pattern, a diffusion barrier layer, a bottom electrode and a top electrode. The phase-change material pattern is placed on the bottom electrode, and the diffusion barrier layer containing tellurium is placed on the phase-change material pattern. The top electrode containing titanium is placed on the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer acts to inhibit diffusion of titanium from the top electrode into the phase-change material pattern.